Carex zotovii
Common name
Zotov’s bastard grass, Zotov’s hook sedge
Synonyms
Uncinia zotovii Hamlin
Family
Cyperaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Sedges
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
UNCZOT
Chromosome number
2n = 88
Current conservation status
The threat classification status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island, South Island (mainly Nelson, Otago and Southland), Stewart and Chatham Islands.
Habitat
Coastal to montane (up to 1000 m a.s.l.) usually on ridge lines in tall forest, favouring well drained but moist soils. Rarely in tall scrub.
Carex astricta K.A.Ford
Features
Plants rather open, widely spreading, pale yellow-green tufts; tufts often with only 2–3 distant culms per plant. Culms drooping or nodding, 300–600 mm long, < 1 mm diameter, trigonous, glabrous, often scabrid just below inflorescence, basal bracts light brown. Leaves 4–6 per culm, < mature culms, 2–5 mm wide, soft, scabrid on margins and on adaxial surface towards apex. Spikes 40–80 x 3–6 mm, often bracteate, clavate, male part of spike us. c.1 mm. diameter and 1/5 to ¼ length of whole spike, female flowers 12–32, lax towards base of spike with internodes 4–8 mm long, more crowded above with internodes 0.5–1.0 mm long. Glumes ± = utricles, deciduous, ovate, acute or acuminate, hyaline with green midrib or brownish. Utricles 5.0–6.0 x c.1.5 mm, trigonous or triquetrous, ovoid, usually smooth except for a prominent lateral nerve, but occasionally with a few less distinct nerves, green to grey-brown, stipe 1.0–1.5 mm long, beak 1–2 mm long.
Similar taxa
Carex zotovii is most similar to Carex horizontalis (Colenso) K.A.Ford and Carex minor (Kük.) K.A.Ford. From Carex horizontalis it can be distinguished by its wider (2.5-5.0 cf. 1.5-2.0 mm), pale green to yellow-green, rather than dark green leaves, loosely tufted, spreading and more open growth habit, with fewer culms rather than the erect, many-culmed, densely tufted growth habit typical of Carex horizontalis. Carex minor is superficially similar but the glumes in the lower part of the spike are > utricles. In C. zotovii the glumes are equal to or < utricles in the lower part of the spike, and in mature spikes the utricles spread out at 90º from the rachis, while those of C. minor a stay contracted.
Flowering
October - December
Fruiting
November - May
Propagation technique
Easily grown from fresh seed and by division of established plants - though these may take a while to settle. Prefers moist soil in a a semi-shaded site. However, once established will tolerate a wide range of conditions except waterlogging.
Etymology
carex: Latin name for a species of sedge, now applied to the whole group.
zotovii: After Victor Dmitrievich Zotov (1908 - 1977), one of New Zealand’s most eminent botanists who studied the vegetation of NZ high country and the classification of NZ grasses. He also completed a detailed study of the vegetation of the Tararua Range.
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Attribution
Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970). Fact sheet prepared by Peter J. de Lange 17 August 2006.
References and further reading
Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II. Government Printer, Wellington.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Carex zotovii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/carex-zotovii/ (Date website was queried)